Sheet metal flexing machine



Sept. 23, 1941,. E. K. 'JoHANsr-:N ETAL SHEET lMETAL FLEXING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 23, 1941. E. K. JoHANsEN 'ErAL SHEET METAL FLEXING MACl-IINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 1o sheets-sheet 2 l Sept. 23, 1941. E. K. JoHAN'sEN l-:rAL 2,256,520

SHEET METAL FLEXING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 5, 1940 1o sheets-sheet s' Sept 23, 1941 E. K. ,JoHANsEN Erm. 2,256,520

SHEET METAL FLEXING MACHINE Filed Aug. I5, 1949 l0 Sheets-Sheetl 4 Pkersoes REG,

Sept. 23, 1941. E'. K. .1ol-lANsr-:l\ 1 TAL- 2,256,520

SHEET METAL FLEXING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940- l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 23, 1941. E. K. JoHANsEN E14-Al. M 2,256,520

SHEET METAL FLEX'ING MACHINE x Filed Aug. 3, 1940 flo sheets-sheet s` E. K. JoHANsEN AE-rAl.

SHEET METAL FLEXING MACHINE Sept.4 23, 1941.

Filed Aug. :5, 1940 1o sheets-sheet 7 sept. 23, 1941.

E. K. JoHANsEN E'TAI.

SHEET METAL FLEXING MACHNE Filed Aug. 3, 1 940 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 5 o e E Z Z 0 U o l v r ...t E V w f w w Haai M m m mq .IE 8 8 a z Sept. 23, 1941- E. K. JoHANsEN ErAL 2,256,520

SHEET METAL FLEXING MACHINE Sept. 23, 1941. E. K. JoHANsEN ET Al.

SHEET METAL FLEXING MACHINE 1'0 sheets-sheet 1o Filed Aug. 3, 1940 169 155 J53 7g/77 .752 OO o Patentedsept. 23, 1941l UNITED. STAT Es PAT 1515115 OFFICE.

SHEET mirar. FLEXING MACHINE Einmx. Johansen anaaaou E.-wa1tman, om-

cago, lll., asslgnors to Clearing Machine Col'- It is one of the purposes of a flexing machine of this character to flex or work metal sheets to prepare them for deep. drawing,"and at the same time prevent the formation or development of irregularities such as are known as'stretcher strains or Luders lines, commonly called wor'm` unit may be employed for the purpose'of leveling. or straightening the sheet before' it leaves the vunit.A

work strengthening, that is, the work strengthj enlng increases resistance to slip of the different grains or groups of grains, and as steel is -not a perfect homogeneous substance and the distribution of stresses is not absolutely uniform during the process of drawing, some grains 6r groups of grains will slip more than the neighboring group causing a deformation with due reduction of area of the steel, and it is the-difference in thickness thus produced that causes the severe surface markings known as Luders lines.

If the weakening eilect on the steel by reduc- Y tion of cross--section is not made up by the work strengthening process, further stress will finally cause a rupture, and breakage or cracking will occur in the stamping.

In order to eliminate stretcher strains it has been found that it is necessary to plastically deform the metal by cold working to a point where the rate of work strengthening has risen to a value greater than that of weakening due to reduction in cross-section, and when the .steel is used within a short time for deep drawing there will not occur any breaking or Luders lines due to this effect.

It is one of the objects of the present invention ingA rollers.

. -oliiittefll A further object is to provide an improved l macliin'e-of this character in whichthe co-,ojper-4 atin justable with respect toeach other, but-one of the series is mounted upon, a swinging support so 'that -all of the rollers of that series m'ay be shifted Vwith respect to the rollers of the other or co-operating series to vary the relative positions of the vco-operating-series. l A further object is to provide in a'machine of this. character improved means whereby the flexing rollers will be backed by rollers of larger 'diameter to prevent them from flexing', and the drives of the feed rollers will be equipped with mechanism that willallow free wheeling movement to permit the additional speed necessary due to the relative changing position of the'iiex- To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear the invention consists in the' features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described' and 5 claimed and shown in the accompanying draw- .I this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 211s a front elevation of Figure 1 with partscmitted and parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a right hand end.. elevation, on 'an enlarged scale, of Figure 1 and with ,parts Figure 4 is" a lefthand elevation of .Figure 40 onlan enlarged scale, and with parts omitted.

to overcome fthe difculties and objections herey tofore existing in such processes, and to provide an improved machine for flexing the metal and lin which machine the exing or leveling'.unit'- embodies a number of spacedco-operating rollers Varranged in'vstaggeredA relation, and in such a manner that thetop and bottom rollers on the entering side will be in closer proximity to each other than the co-operating rollers on the leaving side.

'The rqllers are preferably of very small diameter, with the-result that the sheet will be subiected to a great amount of ilexlng 1n the first part of the unit, whereas-the latter part of the Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line i-l Figure 1. Figure 6 is a view taken on line 8-6 Figures' 1 and '1, on an enlarged scale and with parts emitted. E Fi 'l is a detail sectional view, on an enseries of rollers arenot only laterally adview lFigure l5 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line I5-I5 Figure 1 and with parts omitted.

Figure 16 is a detail sectional view taken on line Iii-i6 Figures 15 and 17.

Figure 17 is an irregular vertical sectional taken on line i1-I1- Figure 16.

yFigure 18 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the clutch for controlling the operation of the feed rollers.

The machine consists essentially of a supporting frame'ZU at the forward or entry end of which is arranged a suitable platform 2| for guiding the material into the machine, and co-operating with the platform are guides 22 so arranged that the edges of the strip of material willbe contacted thereby as it passes into-the machine. These guides may be of any suitable construction view and may be held in their adjustedpositions by means of fastening bolts 23. A shaft 24 may be provided and connected with the guides insuch va manner that by rotating the shaft through the medium of a handle or crank 24a (see particularly Figure 2) the guides may be suitably adjustedY in directions towards and awayfrom eachother to accommodate strips of varying Width. Y

Arranged adjacent the entrance of the machine are rotatably mounted brushes 25 between which the material 26 passes, one end of the shaft of each of which is journaled in a bearing 21 which are adjustable toward 'and away from each other by means of ladjusting screws 28 so as to accommodate sheets of varying thicknesses and wear of brushes.` The other ends of the shafts o f the brushsi'arejournaled in bearings 29 which are also provided with adjusting screws CFI or bolts 30. On the end of the shaft 3| of each of the brushes is provided a bevel gear 32 (see particularly Figures 12 and l14) which mesh respectively with bevel gears 33 that are mounted upon a shaft .34 journaled in suitablebearings 35, and which gears 33 are adapted to be moved lengthwise vo f the shaft 34 to permit of the relative adjustment. of the brushes, and at the same time are mounted for rotation with the shaft 34.

Motion is imparted to these brushes through the medium of a gear 36 secured to one end of one of the shafts .3i and this gear 36 receives its motion from another gear 31 thatmeshes therewith (see Figure 4) when the latter is rotated 39 'and conveyed away inl any suitable manner;

In the rear. ofthe spray pipes 3l is a .dexing unit comprising opposed rollers 4l-4I the upper Iy 'miler being mounted in a sliding bearing 42 (see particularly Finire' 11),

Connected to this I2 is a rod or member 43 which passes through a stationary member 44 and on the end of the rod is threaded a. hand wheel or adjusting member 4i.

The hub of the wheel 45 is preferably recessed as at 46 and engages over a portion 41 of the stationary member 44. Encompassing the rod 43 is a spring 48 one end of which abuts the bearing 42 and the other end is recessed into a nut or member 43a, the latter being threaded. as at 48h into the stationary member 44, apertures 48e being preferably provided and which open through the periphery of the nut 48a for the reception of an implement by means of which the nut or member 48a may b e adjustedwith respect to the stationary member 44 whereby the tension of the spring v48 maybe varied. The hand Wheel 45 serves as a means whereby a micrometer adjust-v Amembers 52 (see particularly Figures 7 and 9) are arranged adjacent the ends of roller 50 and are pivotally supported upon the shaft of such rollers, and connected to the respective brackets by one end are links 53, as at.54 (see Figure 10).

The other ends of the links are respectively connected, as at 55, to another bracket 56 that is mounted and keyed to a shaft 51, the latter being supported in suitable bearings preferably by the frame 20 of the machine.

Rotatably mounted preferably upon the shafts of the roller 4l] is another` bracket 58 which has` connected to it one end of a link 59, as at 60. The

other end of the link is pivotally connected, as at El, to a member 62 that is slidably supported in the bracket 56l for adjustment by means of a screw 63.

'These connecting links 53-59 and the bracket members 52-56-58 are arranged adjacent the side walls of the machine, the brackets 52 and 58 being disposed respectively adjacent the ends of the rollers 50-49 and 4l-4IJ.

Keyed to the shaft 51 is a crank 64 with one arm 65 preferably located in the center of the shaft 51 so that when the shaft 51 is rocked the brackets 52-58 will be rocked about their respective pivots, for a purpose to be described, and this -shaft 51 may be rocked in any suitable manner preferably by means of the arm 65 ofthe crank and to which Aarm 65 a link 61 is pivotally connected at one end, as at 68. The other end of the. link 61 is pivotally connected, as at 69, to a piston rod 10 that in turn is connected to a piston 1| that is reciprocable in a cylinder 12 supported preferablyby the frame oftheA machine.

Fiuidpressure is admitted into the cylinder 12 alternately on the opposite sides of the piston 1I, in a manner hereinafter to be described, for causing the shaft 51 to be rocked and the brack- Y ets'or members 52-58 swung about their pivots.

The pinch rollers 49--50 co-operate with the feed rollers lll- 4l for causing the material 26 to be fed through the machine and co-operatingv with these rollers and spaced from each other are additional rollers 13-14 which are of comparatively small diameters with relation to the diameters ofthe rollersIII-II and43--5l. The

roller 13 is carried. by the bracket 5I and is bodily movable therewith, while the roller 14 is carried by the bracket 52 and is -bodily movable therewith, sq that when the brackets 52-58 are swung 'IL to the slide 1l. .connected at one end, as at Il, to the frame 20 about their pivots the rollers 13-1i will be bodily moved in opposite directions so vas toseparate them or move theminto positions with respect to each other so as to permit of the feeding of the material between the co-operatingrollers lie-4l and I-50'.

The rollers 13-14 are respectively backed by rollers 415-1i respectively carried by the brachd frame 18 will move upwardly, the toggle levers ets 58-52 and these rollers 15-13 are of a comparatively large diameter with respect to the '.ii-

meters of the rollers 13-14 and abut theperipheries thereof so as to prevent the rollers 13-14 from flexing or springingunder pressure. The rollersJS-.Nfare adapted to be movedout of alinement with each other by rocking the re- A spectivesupporting brackets 52-58 and in such position there will be no obstruction for the ma-v terial 26 to pass directly from between the -rollers 40-4l and'between the rollers M When,

with .respect to the diameter of the rollers 'l5-16, the smaller rollers will wedge or be held in posiis elevated with respect to the, roller 49, the

operating to effecta movement of the pistons 90 in the `cylinder 9| against the fluid pressure therein. This duid pressure howevenwill assist in holding the roller '50 in proper working position and. with sumcient pressure to grip or pinch the sheet of material passing between the rollers 0 5).

The adjustment ofthe roller 50 with respect to the-roller I9 may be controlled in anysuitable manner but preferably by means of a rod or member 94 which is threaded, as at 95, into' the frame 18 'and passes through the stationary member 20 ofthe frame. The free end of the rod or member 84 'is threaded, as at 9B, onto which a nut orhand wheel 91 is threaded, and which hand wheel when operated will raise or A lower the roller 5l and frame 1B with respect to tion to keep them from being' pulled out of position by the material as it is passingv over the rollers, and the backing rollers 15-15 will keep the'.

smaller rollers 13-14 from being deflected so that the sheet of materialwill be evenly stretched or y flexed throughout the entire width of the material and maintain the sheet of material from asan undesired iiexedor set position.

The rollers II IIV constitute pinch rollers for gripping the material and for assisting in drawing thematerial into the machine.

v The' roher sns joumned, as at 11 (see psrticularlyFiguresand'D'inbearingscarrledbya slide 1I that is mounted lupon the frame of the machine and this slide'carries backing'v rollersl 1l, anynumber of which may/be provided, and which are rotatably supported in the slide 1l so as to'engage the periphery of the roller Il and these rollers'1l co-operate with the rollers Il that contact the pinch roller I! and are rotatably supported upon the frame of the machine.

vThe rollers Il and Il serve to prevent the pinch rollers AHI from-being'nexed.

As the material 26 .c s. e; between the rollers 9 5., the roller Il together with the slide 18 will be elevated and in orderto accomplish this result and at the same-time provide .pressure on the sheet for the slide-1l -and roller 5l; there ".-is provided'toggle mechanismon each end of the slide 1%. This toggle mechanism embodies a link 3l pivotally connected at one end, as at Another link I! is pivotally and by its other end,as at Il, to the link 8l intermediate the ends of the latter. The links 85 are connected at one .end,as at to the other end of the raspective links Il, and are connected as-at 81 at'their other end to a piston rod l! that rudes through mutable hearings u vcan-heu by the sliding frame 1l. Connected to thepisthe roller 49.. A lock nut may also be lprovided on the end of the'rod member 9|.

The severe ,flexingfof the sheet is produced by the two rollers 13-14 which areof small diameter and such flexing loccurs between the feed rollers "-Il Vand the pinch rollers 49-5.. Be-

fore the sheet is fed between the feed rollers dll-II the flexing rollers 13-14 are in an elevated position one above and one below the normal path of movement of the sheet from the rollers lll-4l to the rollers l8-5I and willremain in this position until the sheet w tween 'the rollers Q -5I., Just as soon as the sheet passes between vthe rollers --Il the roller SQ will be elevated with respect to the roller 49, by the material, and .this'will cause a switch $9 to be operated by reason of a member Ill mounted upon the slide 18 for movement therewith and with respect thereto. As soon'as the member IUI contacts and operates the switch II an electric'circuit will be closed through conductors Ill- |02 (see particularly Figures 7 and '9). The closing of this circuit will energize afsolen'oid |03 which through the medium of a lever or member struction, suffice it to say that when the valve is in a position to admit fluid pressure to the cylinder 12 through a pipe IIS which leads from any suitable source of iluid pressure supply, the

torlrodisapistonwhichoperatesinacyl` inder il, the cylinder receiving iiuid imder presmrefromanysuitablesourcethroughapipell, in whichpipe is providedauidpressure regulating valve .I of anydesired or suitable well known construction.

It will therefore be seen that when pressureis admitted intocylinder'll and the roller il iiuld .pressure will iiow through the pipe lli, through the valve, thence through a pipe |l1,

into the cylinder 12. At the same time the valve Il! will be set to opencommlmic'ation from the cylinder 12 on the other side of the piston 1| out oi' tthe outlet IBI through'v a pipe Ill, thence Vthrough the valve and through a-discha'rge pipe IIB. In the pipe lli may be arrangedany suit' able form of pressure-regulating valve lli, a fluid pressure gauge I I2, and a globe valve IIS.

With the valve I in a position to admit uid pressure from the pipe lll to the cylinder 12, the piston 1l will move forwardly to the position shown in Figures 'I and 9, causing the lflexing rollers 1.3-14 to assume the position shown in Figure 9 and thereby iiex the material 2i, be-

tween the feed rollers ll-II and thepinch rollers Q -IU. As the piston 1I moves forwardly iiuid on the other side of the piston will be". exhausted through the outlet III.

After the' rear end ,of the sheet has passed from between pinch rollers Q -ll the roller. lll

will be lowered until `it contacts th'e roller Il or I stopped bythe taforesaid adjusting. means, and

this will cause the member I" on the'slide 18V to move away from the switch Il thereby opening the circuit through the conductors- IUI-|02,

de-energizing the solenoid |03 and the-valve |05 will be positioned so as to connect the pipe |06 with the pipe |09 and the pipe |01 with the ex- .haust so that the fluid pressure will be ad` mitted to the cylinder 12 on the other side of theY piston 1| to separate the flexing rollers-13-14 to permit the insertion of a new sheet so that it will be gripped bythe pinch rollers 494-50, during which operation thevfluid pressurev on the initial side of the piston 1| will be exhausted through the pipe |01 so that the piston will move backwardly to` permit such operation or positioning of the flexing rollers 13--14.

The roller 40 of the feed rollers constitutes the driving rroller for feeding the-sheet therebetween and this roller 40 is positively driven in a manner to be hereinafter described. The drive for this roller 40 (see particularly Figures 2,14,

1l, 13 and 18) embodies the gear 31 loosely mounted upon the shaft of the roller 40 in a s uitable housing ||5. Secured to .the shaft 40 for ro- I' tation therewith is a clutch member |.|6 upon the hub of which clutch member is a co-operating clutch member ||1 that is mounted for rotation l with the clutch member ||'6 and for adjustment with respect thereto in a direction lengthwise of the axis of the clutch member ||1. This is acthe gear 31; vthis latter gear 31 also meshes with the g`ear.3|54 carried by the'shaft 3| of one of the brushes 25.l

With this arrangement when the roller B6 is rotated, the brush l will be rotated and the 4feed roller 40 vwill also be rotated in the event that the gear 31 is locked to the shaft of the roller 40- through the medium of the clutch mechanism, causing all of these elements to ro'- When, however, the clutch ||`6||1 etc.'

tate. is released so as. to unlock the'gear- 31 with respect to the roller 40 allowing the latter to freely A rotate, motion will still be imparted to the brushes 25 through the medium of the train of gears comprising the gears 49a, 49,12, 31 and 36.

Admission of fluid pressure into the ,cylinder |22 is also controlled by the movement of the slide 16 and the opening and closing of the circuit through the conductors IUI-|02 that'co'ntrol the solenoid 03 that vin turn controls thel operation of the valve |05.

That is to say, the admission and exhaust of luidinto and out of the cylinder 12 asiwell as complished in any suitable manner preferably by l' and o portion of the body of the goor 3i.

. This friction creating element is disposed between the clutchelements |6| l1 and co-.operates therewith to be gripped by the clutch members so as to lock the gear 31 for rotation with the shaft 40 when the clutch members are moved together, but when the clutch members are separated, the gear 31 may be rotated independently of the roller 40. v

Supported by the casing ||5 is a cylinder |22 in which is arranged a piston |23 that has contact preferably through a ball bearing |24 with the` clutch member ||1, and operates when uid l pressure is admitted through a pipe |25 into the .f cylinder A|22 to force the-clutch member ||1 toward the clutch member |6 to grip the friction element |20 and thereby lock the gear 31 to the T shaft of the roller 40 to cause the latter to rotate when the gears rotate. l of the piston |23, however, is effected in opposi This movement tion to aspring |26, the latter operating when l' the fluid pressure in the, cylinder 22 `is relieved,

into and out of 'the cylinder |22 is controlled by th'e valve |05.

The peripheralspeed of the feed rollers 4U- 4| and the pinch rollers 49-50 is the same and when a-sheet is fed from between the i'ollers'40-4I to the rollers 40-50, initially, the ilexingrollers 13-14 will be separated, but as soon as the sheet passes between the rollers 49-50 the roller 50, together with the supporting slide 18,' will be elevated vand the flexing rollers 13-14 will be moved` to the position shown in Figures '1 and 9.

As the peripheral speed of the feed rollers l0-l and pinchrollers 45-50 is the same, it

will be manifest that unless some provision is made .whereby the peripheral speedv of the feed rollers lili-8| may be varied, the s'evere flexing of the material between these two pairs of rollers would result in injury. Therefore, in order to overcome or prevent'such difficulty, the .clutch mechanism just describedI is provided so lthat just-as soon' as the circuit through the solenoid |03 is 'completed and fluid pressure is admitted into the cylinder 12 to shift the flexing rollers A.13-14, shown in Figure 7, fluid pressure will be x exhausted from the cylinder |22, and the spring |26 will move the piston |23 in the cylinder |22 backwardly so as to unlock the gear ||4 from the shaft of the roller 40, thereby permitting free material and by the operationV of the severe'exto permit the clutch member ||1to assume an inoperative position with respect to the clutch l j member ||6 so, that thev gear 31 may be rotated 1 vindependently ofthe shaft of the roller 40v so as L -to permit a free wheeling of the roller-'40j The clutch mechanism thus described is of the ordinary and well'known construction and any clutch which will eifect this result may be x l employed.

`The' roller 49 (see particularly Figures 1, 2 and 5)'15 positively driven and has connected with it to rotate therewith a gear 46a (see .particularly Figures 4 and75) and meshing with this gearis aix idler gear 49h which in turn meshes with the gear 3,1 supported by the shaft of the roller, 4l so that motion is imparted from the roher 46 throughthe gear 49h and thence tol wheeling of the driving roller 40 so that an extra amount of material can be drawn in between the pairs of rollers 40-4| and 49-50 by the engagement of .the flexing rollers 13-14 with the ing of the material in the space between thefeed rollers 40-4| and the. pinch rollers 49-50.

The gear 31 which drives the roller 40 will be unlocked with respect to this roller until the end of the material passes from between the pinch rollers 49-50 whereupon the roller 50 will move back again into contact with the roller 49, and

` the slide 18 -will be lowered thereby deenergizing @the solenoid |03 to operate the valve |05 to permit uid pressure to enter thecylinder |22 to move the piston |23 forwardly and thereby lock l 4the gear 31 in driving'relation with respect to the feed rol1er'40. f l

At this time-the flexing rollers 13-14 will have `bee'n separated and the machine will then be in condition forfanew sheetto be fed by the feed rollers 40-4l to the pinch-'rollers 49-1-50. After the sheet passes from between the pinch rollers 49-50 it is fed into a sheet leveling unit which 2,356,5 n consists of a series of superposedrollers arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other.

In ,the present form-of the invention one more roller is shown in the lower series l|21 than is 'shovilr' particularly Figure 6) mounted upon the frame 20 and arranged beneath .these rollers and conprovided for the purpose of preventing flexing of the. rollers |21. 'The upper rollers |28 are jour- .naled in suitable bearings |32 mounted upon an adjustable frame |33 and carried by this frame are a series of rollers |34 similar to the rollers .|30, and are journaled in suitable bearings |35 carried by theframe |33. 4These rollers |34 contact orv back up the rollers |28 and serve as a means 4for preventing flexing of the rollers under the pressure to which the rollers are'subjected.

The frame |33 is provided with trunnions |36 at the opposite ends thereof adjacent the enand similar trunnions |31 at the opposite ends and adjacent Ithe leaving end of the rollers |21`|28.

' The trunnions |36 are mounted in slidably adjusted bearings |35 connected to each of which bearings and extending thereabove and through a portion of the stationary frame 28 is a rod or member |39 having a worm gear housed within a casing |40, and engaging with each ofsaid worm gears is a worm carried by ashaft |4| and to which shaft is connected a suitable operating `tli,-"'upp'er series |28. The lower seriesv L|21"ar, ournaled in suitable bearings A|28 (see -ported by the frame 20 and these rollers l| 30 are handle |42 so that by `operation lof the handle '|42 and rotation of the shaft |4| 4the sliding member or unit |33 will be raised or loweredwith respect to the lower series of rollers. Each of the trunnions |31 is journaled in an eccentric |43 carried by a bearing |44 and these bearings Y are slidably mounted upon the frame 20 and may r By reason of rthe'ecceiitrics |43 it will be manifest that the outer end of the unit |33 may be raised or loweredwhile the inner end will swing only about the pivot |36.

The rollers in the leveling unit are preferably of a very small diameter so that the sheet will receive considerable flexing in the first part of 'the unit, whereas the rollers at the latter part of the unit may be employed for the purpose of `leveling o`r straightening the sheet.

All of these rollers are driven through individual universal joints from a drive unit in a manner to be described and by reason of the universal joints the rollers may'be adjusted without changing the gear centers.

In order to hold the frame |33 in its lowermost position so as to create a sulcient stress against the rollers |28 to cause them to co-operate with the rollers |21 to grip -the material, springs |45 maybe employed.

On the'end of each of the rollers |21|25'is a coupling member |50 (see particularly Figure 15) with which another coupling member |5| cooperates and this coupling |5| is arranged at the end of a shaft |52. Individual to the shafts |52 is a driving shaft |53-and a coupling member |54 couples the ends of the shafts |53-|52 to form With this construction it will be manifest-that when the shaft |53 is rotated the corresponding roller |21 will be rotated and by reason of the couplings there will be formed a universal joint so that the rollersl |21f-I28 may be relatively and laterally adjusted without changing the cen# ters of the driving shafts |53.

, ably from a motor |58 through the medium of be raised or lowered in any suitable? manner,

such as by means of a rod secured to each of them, and passing through a portion of the frame 20.

Carriedby the rods and within housings |46 are worm wheels ,with which worms on a shaft |41 mesh. This shaft is adapted to be rotated by means of a handle |48.

Y It will therefore be manifest that with this construction and in order to raise or lower the unit or adjustable'frame |33, all thatis necessary to do is to operate the handles |42 and |48 on the respective shafts |4| and |41. This will vary the position of the upper set of rollers |28 with respect to4 the lower set of rollers |21.

It is desirable, however, that the rollers |28 in proximity to the exit or leaving side of th'e machine be spaced a greater distance'from the co-operating rollers which are at the entry side of the unit oor which are in proximity to the pinch rollers 49-50, and this distance may be varied according to the thickness of the material.

However, suchbadjustment so as to cause the rollers |28 to be on an inclined plane, s o to speak, with respect to the plane of the rollers |21is accomplished through the medium of the eccentrics |43 in which the trunnions- |31'are jour` Motion is impartedto' the rollers A|21 prefera drive belt- |59a which passes over a`pulley |55 on the shaft o'fthe motor and a pulley .|60 secured to a shaft |6| mounted in suitable bearings |62 (see particularly Figure 15). Secured to the shaft |6| is a gear |63 which meshes with a gear |64 that is carried by a shaft |58b that is connected to the lower pinch roller 49 by `means of a'suitable coupling |58c (see particularly Figures 1 and 5). A gear |92J on the shaft |6| meshes `with an idler gear |65 carried by astub shaft |66. This gear |65 operates all of the rollers |21-|28 and in order to cause them to rotate in the same direction, they are driven in 'groups as shown more clearly in Figure 17. s

The gear |65 meshes with a gear |6`Il that is carriedby the shafts |53 of one of the rollers |28, and carried by the shaft |53 is a gear |68 of the rollers of that' group to rotate in the same direction.

unit |33 will be elevated and will turn about the trunnions |36 as pivots.

'I'he gear |61 also meshes with a gear |13 that is carried by another of the shafts |53 of an# other group of rollers. Carried bythe shaft |53 is a gear |14 which meshes with gears |15, |16, |11 and |18. on others .of the shaft |53 of the rollers, so that upon rotation of the gear |61 the gear |13 will be rotated and this in turn will 'rotate the gears |14-V-I'15-I15--I-I1 and |18.-

rotated through the medium of a gear |18 which is secured' to another of the shafts |53 .and

' feed roller I0 whi meshes with the gear |61. n thisy latter shaft --haust the fluid from the other side of the piston.

|53'is a gear |80 which in turn meshes with gears |8|-.|82-| 83 and |84 on similar shafts |53 of others of the rollers. v Thus when `the. shaft 6| is rotated, the gear |65 will rotate the gear |61 and this gear in turn will rotate the gears |13-I19. The gear |68 being rotated with the gear |61 Will through the medium of the interconnecting gears of that groupv rotate the shafts |69-|10| 1| and |12.

The rotation of the gear |61 impartingrotation to the gear V|1Elwillrotate the gear |80 and this in turn will rotate the gears |8||82|83 andY |84 of that particular group. Likewise, the rotation of the gear |13 by the gear |61 will rotate the gear |14.and throughvthe medium of |11 and |18 will -be rotated.

, It will therefore be seen that all of the rollers the rollers at the exit end of the unit willbespaced -a greater distance than the rollers at the entrance end.

All of these gears which operate the rollers |21-|28 may be housed within a casing provided with a. closure |85. 'I'he motor |58 is supported by a base |58a hinged at one end, as at |86,

and havingV a fastening or securing means at the other end which fastening means may be in the' form of a turn buckle |81 having threaded engagementwith an element |88 plvotally anchored as at |89, while the other endof the turn buckle has engagement with an element |90 pivotally anchored, as at |9|.

It is thought that the`operation .of this ma.

chine will be clearly understood from the foregoing but briefly stated itis as follows: Y

` To set the machine for operation, fluid pressure is admitted into the cylinder 12 ahead of the piston 1| so as to move the latterrbackwardly in theeylinder and thereby rock the rock shaft 51, the movementof which latter through the medium of .the bracket 56 and the brackets 52-58 will cause the flexing rollers 13-14 to be separated so that a strip of metal can be conveyed betweenv the cleaning brushes 25'past the Washing sprays 38 and into the bite of the rollers lI-ll. From there the material is fed directly across to the rollers lIS-SI'I so as to pass therebetween, it of course being understood that the rollers |28 have been adjusted to the proper position with respect to the rollers |21 and preferably so that the rollers at the exit end of the leveling unit will be spaceda greater distance than the roller at the entrance end.

'I'he material will -is positively driven. As soon as the material passes between the rollers e I9-50 -the roller 50 will be elevated and this will cause the sliding frame 18 to be raised until the member |06 engages andactuates the switch active will then actuate or set the valvey |05, so

as to admit `fluid pressure into the cylinder '12 behindvthe piston 1| to move thev latter forwardly Upon-this movement of the piston 1| the shaft 54 'will be rocked in a directionthat lwill lower the flexing rollers V13-.-14to;themsamerelative positions in whichthey are shoWn-,inFi'guresfv'l M and 9 to deflect or flex the material, i'.onsiderjably and abruptly inthespacefbetweenthe feed l l rollers dll-4| and thepinch. rollers E9e-50. ,Thev rollers 13-'14being of small -diameter will kcause a"A considerable llexingof the material. x

Just at about the time tliellexingrollers lil-31d' contact the material the feedroller t0 is released,y that is, the clutch mechanism shownk in'Figur'e 18 will 'cause the gear Ilto be unlockedwith respect to the shaft of 4the roller ML' This will result in freeing the roller 4U for afree wheeling movement so that enough material will-bepulled into the space between the feed rollersandthe pinch rollers so as to permit the flexing Vopera'- tion by the flexing rollers 13-1.

If the peripheral speed of the rollers llil- 4| and the rollers 49--50 were maintained the-same during this flexing movement, considerable damage would be done to the material, butthe releasing of the feed roller 40 vwill permit a free Y wheeling of the latter so that sullicient material will be drawn in or advanced by the flexing rollers 13--14 to permit of such flexing.

From the pinch rollers 49-50 the material which'has lbeen previously flexed passes between the sets of rollers |21--|`28 so as to be leveled or straightened out.

The rollers |21|28 being of small diameter and being in closer proximity to each other at en be fed forwardly bythe l the entrance to the unit than at the exit, the material will be violently flexed and then gradually straightened out as it leaves the unit.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the .scope of the claims; without departin from the spirit of this invention. 1

What is claimed as new is:

1.` A machine for flexing a sheet of material embodying opposed series of rollers for straightening thel material, feeding rollers for feeding the material to said straightening rollers, opposed flexing rollers in advance of the feeding rollers and between which flexing rollers the material passes to the feeding rollers, said flexing rollers having a fixed operative relation to each other, means whereby such fixed relation may be varied at will, means -for moving said flexing rollers across the path of movement of the material to thefeeding rollers, and means controlled by the passage of the material between the feeding rollers for controlling the positioning of said flexing rollers. i

-2. A' machine for flexing a sheet of material embodying opposed series of rollers for straight ening the material, feeding rollers for feeding the material to said straightening rollers, opposedl exing 'rollers in advance of the feeding rollers and between which flexing rollers the material passes to the feeding rollers, said flexing rollers having a fixed operative relation with `respect to each other, means whereby such fixed relation may ber varied at will, means for moving the said flexing rollers across the path of movement of the material to the feeding rollers, and fluid pressure actuated means controlled by the passage of the l to the position `shown in Figure 9,and to ex- 75 material between the feeding rollers for controlling the positioning of said flexing rollers.

rolls and respectively contacting the iiexing rolls to maintain them against distortion, means controlled by the passage of .the material between the feeding rolls for controlling the positioning of the flexing rolls, and means for effecting relative bodily adjustment of the flexing rolls one with relation to the other. y

12. An apparatus of the character described,

- embodying upper and lower/feed rolls, upper and lower pulling rolls spaced from said feed rolls and defining therewith a path of travelv for the sheet passing between the rolls, means for driving said rolls, sheet flexing rolls arranged between said 4feed and pulling rolls, respectively above and betion upon the sheet, backing rolls also in the space between the feeding and pulling rolls and respectively contacting the fiexing rolls to maintain them against distortion, and means controlled by the passage of the material between the feeding rolls for controlling the positioning of the flexing rolls, the last recited means embodying fluid pressure controlled mechanism.

13. An apparatus of the character described, embodying upper and lower feed rolls, upper and lower pulling rolls spaced from said feed rolls and defining therewith a path of travel for the sheet passing between the rolls, means for driving said rolls, sheet flexing rolls arranged between said feed and pulling rolls, respectively above and for eifecting such bodily adjustment for opera- I below the normal path of travel of the sheet,

means individual to the flexing rolls for mounting one of them for swinging movement about the axis of one ofthe feeding rolls andl the other for swinging movement about the axis jof one of the pulling rolls, means for moving said flexing rolls across the' path ofv movement of the sheet .on its passage from the feeding to the pulling rolls, said feeding" and pulling rolls being disposed in close proximity to each other, said flexing rolls being ofI comparatively small diameter and being bodily adjustable independently one with relation Yto the other, means for effecting such bodily adjustment for operation upon the sheet, backing rolls also in the space between the feeding and' pulling rolls and respectively contacting the iiexing rolls to maintain them against distortion, and means controlled by the passage of the material between `the feeding rolls for controlling the positioning of the flexible rolls.

14. An apparatus of the character described, embodying upper and lower feed rolls, upper and lower pulling rolls spaced from said feed rolls and defining therewith a path of travel for the sheet passing between the rolls, means for driving said rolls, sheet flexing rolls arranged between said feed and pulling rolls, respectively above and below the normal path of travel of the sheet, means for moving said flexing rolls across the path of movement of the sheet on its passage from the feeding to the pulling rolls, said feeding and pulling rolls being disposed in close proximity to each other, said flexing rolls being of comparatively small diameter and being bodily adjustable independently one with relation to the other, a rock shaft, a connection between each of said flexing rolls and said rock shaft, whereby upon operation of the rock shaft the said exing rolls will be bodily positioned to operate upon the sheet, backing rolls also in the space between the feeding and pulling rolls and respectivelycontacting the flexing rolls to maintain them against distortion, and means controlled by the passage of the material between the feeding rolls for controlling the positioning of the flexing rolls.

15. An apparatus of the character described, `embodying upper and lower feed rolls, upper and lower pulling rolls spaced from said feed rolls and defining therewith a path of travel for the sheet passing between the rolls, means for driving said rolls, sheet flexing rolls arranged between said feed and pulling rolls, respectively above and below the normal path of travel of the sheet, means for moving said flexing \rolls across the path of movement of the sheet on its passage from the feeding to the pulling rolls, said feeding and pulling rolls being disposed in close proximity to each other, said exing rolls being of comparatively small diameter, backingl rolls engaging the flexing rolls wher by to prevent distortion of the flexing rolls, one of said fiexing rolls when operating to deflect the sheet being wedged` between its backing roll and one of the feeding rolls, and the other exing roll being wedged between its backing roll and one of the pulling rolls, whereby the back end of the sheet will when passing between the rolls be held in close proximity to the roll.- EINAR K. J OHANSEN. ADOLF E. WALTMAN.

. being spaced apart, means of flexing rollers having a `to eachother and `flexing rollers may other, and means fo assenso' j oflpairs of feeding rollers in advance of the straightening rollers, said pairs of feeding rollers for rotating the feeding rollers, a stretcher roller disposed'to operate in the space between said pairs of feeding rollers, means for v bodily moving said stretching roller across the path of feeding movement of the material from one pair to, whereby the last free rotation as the sheet is deflected and while in 'engagement with of feeding rollers tp other pair, and means for releasing one of said feeding rollers with respect to its rotating means whereby the last said roller will'be adapted for free rotation while the material is in engagement thereis being flexed4 by said flexing by the other pair of feeding with and while it rollers and gripped rollers.

l4. A machine embodying a plurality of series of straightening rollers arranged in staggered relation, a plurality of pairs of feeding rollers in advance of the straightening rollers, said pairs of feeding rollers being spaced apart, means for rotating the feeding rollers, a. stretcher roller disposed to operate in the space between said pairs of feeding rollers, means for'bodily moving .said stretching roller across the path offeeding movement of the mafor flexing a sheet of material` terial fromonepair of feeding rollers to the other pair, means controlled by the passageof the material-between one of said pairs of feeding rollers stretcher roller, and eans for releasing one of ment therewith and while it is being exed by said flexing rollers and gripped by the other pair of feeding rollers. l 5. A machine for flexing a sheet of material embodying two pairs of co-operating feeding rollers between which the material successively passes. driving means for one of the rollers of each pair, means operable to engage the material in the said space between the pairs of rollers to deect the material while the latter is passing between both pairs of rollers, leasing 'one of said rollers from its driving'means while the'material is in engagement therewith and as the material is being deflected by said deflecting means.

6. A machine between which the sheet is successively fed, a pair iixedoperative relation disposed between said pairs` and disposed on opposite sides of said sheet.' a movable support for each-of said flexing rollers, a

fixed relation` of one of the -varied with respect to the shaft whereby lthe 7. A machine for sheet is successively fed, a pair and disposed of said flexing rollers, a rock shaft, an

ports and said rock shaft, means for rocking said and means for re,

l for sexing e sheet of materiel. `embodying spaced co-operating pairs of rollers for controlling said bodily 'movement of said 'the time when the sheet th respect to its rotating means wherebythe last said roller will b e adapted i the pairs of rollers for sheet on opposite rendering the driving means of one oi the rollers of said pairs of rollers inactive with respect theresaid roller will be adapted for both of said co-operating pairs offrollers. f c

8. A machine for flexing a sheet of material embodying two pairs of-co-operatingrollers simultaneously gripping and feeding a sheet successively therebetween. means operating between the pairs of rollers for abruptlydefiecting the sheet, rotating brushesl between which the sheet passes before reaching the said rollers, liquid spraying means disposed vbetween the brushes and the first of said pairs of rollers. and means for causing the rollers of one of said pairs to-have a free wheeling movement at the time when the sheet is being deectedin the space between the said two pairs of rollers.

A -9. A machine for flexing a sheet of material embodying two pairs of cooperating rollers siand feeding a sheet sucmeans operating between abruptly defiecting the sheet, and meansfor causing the rollers of one of said pairs to have a free wheeling movement while the sheet isin contact therewith andat is being d eected in the space between the said two pairs of rollers.

10, An apparatus of the character described, embodying upper and lower feed rolls, upper and lower pulling rolls spaced from said feed rolls and defining therewith a path of travel for the sheet passing between the rolls, means for driving said rolls, sheet flexing rolls arranged between said feed and pulling rolls, respectively above and below the normal path of travel ofthe sheet, means for moving said flexing rolls across the multaneously gripping cessively therebetween,

. path of movement of the sheet on its passage rock shaft, an adjustable and operative connecgtion between each of said supports and said rock rocking said shaft to cause 1 said flexing rockers -to engage, the sheet on opposite sides thereof and abruptly bend the sheet inA opposite directions. e

. l flexing a sheet of material embodying spaced `cin-operating pairs of rollers Q between which the 1 ,offiexing rollers between said pairs on oppositesides of said sheet, a movable support for each i operative connection between eachof said supshaft to cause said iiexing rollers to engage the also in the space between the for operation upon from .the feeding ing and pullingv rolls being disposed in close proximity to each other, said flexing rolls being of comparatively small diameter and being bodily adjustable independently'one with relation to the other, means for eifecting such bodily, adjustment the sheet, backing rolls also in the space between the feeding and pulling rolls and respectively contacting the exing rolls to maintain them' against distortio and means controlled by the passage of the material between the feeding rolls for controlling the positioning of the flexing rolls.A

il. An apparatus of the characterdescribed. embodying upper and lower feed rolls, upper and lower pulling rolls spaced fro'msaid feed rolls and denning sheet passing between the rolls, means lfor driving said rolls, sheet iiexing rolls-arranged between` said feed and pulling below the normal path of travelof .the sheet, means for moving said flexing rolls across the path of movement of the sheet on-Hits passage from the feeding to the pulling rolls, said feeding and pulling rolls being disposed in close proximity to each other, said iiexing rolls being of comparatively smallv diameter and being bodily adjustable independently one withl relation to the other, means for effecting such bodily adjustment for operation upon the sheetbacking rolls feeding and pulling to the pulling rollsfsaid feedtherewith -a -path of, travel for `the rolls, respectively above andI 

